- Museo Arcivescovile
Two Erotes around a basket full of fruits. - Museo Arcivescovile
This is ... something old. And pretty. - Museo Arcivescovile
Immortal peacocks on a sarcophagus. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
The ceiling in the narthex. Plenty of different birds, most notably the famous ducks, and the white lilies. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Narthex of the chapel depicting Christ dressed as Roman emperor, standing on a lion and a snake (Psalm 91). His book says EGO SVM VIA VERITAS ET VITA - I am the way, the truth, the life. The top part is original mosaic, the bottom part is just painted! - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Apse of the chapel is also painted. Not a mosaic. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
I told you it was fake. Just painted on the wall. Oh well. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
One of the angels on the ceiling. - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Jacob - Saint Andrew's Chapel
Saint Mark's lion holding the thickest Gospel - despite Mark's Gospel being the shortest of all four. - Museo Arcivescovile
Paschal calendar from the 6th century used to determine the date of the Easter for about a hundred years in advance. - Domus dei Tappeti di Pietra
Dance of the Seasons (original), Winter. I don't quite know what the crown is about. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Christ on the throne with four angels. Unfortunately not all is original, Christ's right side and the two right angels are 19th century reconstructions. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
A procession of 26 martyrs, including Saint Apollinaris, led by Saint Martin of Tours. Following are Pope Clements, Pope Sixtus, Saint Laurentius (in gold), Saint Hippolitus, Pope Cornelius (who is pointing towards), Saint Cyprian ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Iohannes, his brother Paulus, Vitalis (the basilica Vitalis), Gervasius, Protasius, Ursicinus, Namor, Felix ... - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Madonna and Child surrounded by four angels. Plenty of roses and lilies everywhere and the typical gold Byzantine background. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Walking towards the Madonna is a procession of 22 virgins, led by the Three Magi. These are Saints Caecilia, Eulalia, Agnes (with a lamb), Agatha. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
The merchant vessels of Classe, which used to be a port that time. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
6th century censorship. When the church became Orthodox, they 'erased' the Arians/Goths from the images, leaving only their praying hands. One can still see their halos above the curtains. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
... Saints Vincentius, Pancratius, Chrysogonus, Protus ... And these are not all of them. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
I love their fashion sense. They all wear Phrygian caps and - quite unusually -fancy trousers. - Sant’Apollinare Nuovo
Saint Calocerus (Calogero!), died in 130, a martyr from the times of Hadrian. Apparently remembered on February 11th. - Classe
Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe was consecrated on 9 May 549 by the bishop Maximian. - Classe
I took this picture because of the lion. Then I noticed the bull... Holy cow, what did they do to its face? - Classe
The Hand of God. In the old times, depicting God was unacceptable, so only his hand was shown. - Classe
What a lovely detail. - Classe
The later sarcophagi were decorated with simpler patterns, like these immortal peacocks drinking from the fountain of life. - Classe
The church windows are made of alabaster. - Claustro dos Corvos
This Ravens' Cloister, built between 1537 and 1546, was used as a retreat, for reading and prayer. On the south side, there was a library and a scriptorium. - Olive oil cellar
This is the Count of Tomar's Olive oil cellar. - Vallouise
Well, this is an interesting building ;-) - Vallouise
One of the 'maisons plus riches'. Influenced by Piedmont architecture, the rich had stone staircases and arcades. - Col de Montgenèvre
Saint Monginevro in Claviere. All the parkings and benches were full in Montgenevre, so we stopped just across the border in Claviere. - Col de Montgenèvre
A historically super-important pass, known already to Romans (including Julius Caesar). But, as you can guess, also a possible route for Hannibal. "Does not lie in sleep." - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi is easily one of my top five churches in the world. Especially the Lower Church. So so so beautiful. - Basilica di San Francesco d'Assisi
The entrance - nowadays the exit - of the church. - Piazza inferiore di San Francesco
- Saint Francis
Saint Francis by Arte Legno Spello in Via Arnaldo Fortini. - Orvietto cliffs
- Cathedral
- Palazzo del Popolo
The palace was built in 1280-1316. - Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
Founded in the 7th century. Built on Etruscan/Roman remains, rebuilt in the 12-14th century. - Civita di Bagnoregio
Thisisalongaddresstoremember.inn.it - Palazzo Vecchio del Podestà
A lantern in the entrance hall of the old town hall. It was super hot and sunny, so vaulted entrances like this are a fine invention. Rebuilt in 1239 and enlarged in 1337. - Baptismal fountain
The fountain was made by Giovanni di Cecco and moved to the cloister in 1379. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
Capella di Santa Caterina. In the centre, there is Saint Catherine's head. Yes, her head. - Basilica Cateriniana San Domenico
I cannot find any data on this painting. Any ideas? - Tuscan countryside
Some stereotypical Tuscan countryside. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
There was a wedding planned so we weren't allowed to enter the church. - Abbazia di Sant'Antimo
Capital with Daniel and the Lions by Master von Cabestany (12th century). - Diocesan Museum of Pienza - Palazzo Borgia
Madonna e angeli adoranti Gesu Bambino by Bernardino Fungai (1490) - San Francesco
This church is one of the few buildings from the times of Corsignano. - La Madonna del pilastro
A copy of Madonna con Bambino by Sano di Petro, dating from the 15th century. It was given the name because the painting is on a pillar ... - Giotto's Campanile
These hexagonal panels depict (from left): Gionitus (Astronomy), the Art of Building, Medicine, and Hunting. By Andrea Pisano and his workshop, and Nino Pisano. - Open your Dreams by Skim
There was a Skim exhibition in Capoliveri. I just love his works! - Detail
Detail of a lovely window grill. - Il Castello di Perchia
Super lovely renovated castle/hotel. - Convent of San Domenico
Rebuilt and renovated several times, this is from the 16th century. - Sunset in Caparica
Costa da Caparica and the hills of Sintra in the background. - Fountain
A relief on an early Renaissance water basin with the coat-of-arms of the monastery. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
The interior of the church is empty, corresponding to the Cistercian order, but huge! The main nave is 106 m long. - Room of the Kings
Room of the kings is full of statues of kings. The tiles depict the monastery history. - Claustro Real
The royal cloister was built by architect Fernão de Évora in 1448-1477. - Praia da Gigi
Early morning walk on the beach. - Hall of Destiny
The ceiling in the Hall of Destiny: Lusitania, surrounded by the Portugal kings. Afonso Henriques, who has the Book of Destinies of Portugal, is surrounded by Hugues Capet, King of France, and Henry of Burgundy, father of Afonso Henriques. - Mafra furniture
What a lovely detail in one of the plate cabinets. - Rubber ducklings!
Now this is a lot of rubber ducks! - House of Blackheads
The name of the house derives from the guilders' patron St. Maurice, who was often depicted as a Moor. - Fish market
A big market in old Zeppelin hangars. Interesting buildings and lovely market. Although the fish were super-cheap, I only bought some knitted mittens. - Riga centre
- Local graffiti
- St. Peter's Church
St. Peter's Church (Rīgas Sv. Pētera baznīca). Founded in 1209 and rebuilt in the 15th century. - Still-life with Tulips
Believe it or not, this painting is from 2004. By Imants Lancmanis (1941-). Painting is in the National Museum of Art. - Gift for My Wife
Another one by Imants Lancmanis. This "Gift for My Wife" is from 1987-1989. Painting is in the National Museum of Art. - The Fourth Rider of the Apocalypse, detail
Detail of the Fourth Rider of the Apocalypse by Imants Lancmanis (from 2007-2009). Painting is in the National Museum of Art. - Self-Portrait by the Apple Wreath
Self-Portrait by Imants Lancmanis from 2011. Such an interesting motive. Painting is in the National Museum of Art. - Fairy Tale Coin: The Old Man's Mitten
A special exhibition on Latvian coins in the National Museum of Art. I had no idea Latvia issues so many beautiful coins. This one is based on an old Latvian fairy tale about animals warming up and dancing in an old man's mitten. - Miracle Coin
A special exhibition on Latvian coins in the National Museum of Art. "The Miracle Coin invites you to look at the world in the light of imagination letting it show us the way to miracles and hope." - 150 years of Ainaži Nautical School
A special exhibition on Latvian coins in the National Museum of Art. - Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
The Orthodox Cathedral was built in 1876-1884. - View of Riga
View towards Daugava river. Most notable are the Zeppelin hangars (center), the Latvian Academy of Sciences (left), and the 368.5 m tall Radio and TV tower. - Winter wonderland
On the way to the airport. - Riga airport
I did not know that Latvian alphabet has 33 letters! - A swordfish!
A swordfish in the middle of the Alps. At least not as scary as gigantic ants nearby. Made by local artists (Lahu, Fermor & Ducret). - Cap d'Antibes
One hour after landing I was already there watching the waves. And what waves they were! - Cap d'Antibes
- Cap d'Antibes
You would think that you'd be safe on the path, up there. - The answer
I forgot what the question was, but this definitely is the answer. - Lavender
A lovely tiny lavender, growing wild in Massif de l'Esterel. - Pont Sarrazin
An old bridge in Massif de l'Esterel. - Lavender
I find it fascinating that lavender grows in the wild. - Tête de Faune Chevelu
A hairy faun head in Picasso's museum in Antibes. This is IMHO one of the best paintings there. - Nature morte a la sole et aux trois oursins
Most of the drawings/paintings in the Picasso Museum are like this. Maybe I don't get art, but I have dozens of very similar drawings from my kids. - Satyr, Faun and Centaur with Trident
There is something lovable about these guys. - La Joie de Vivre
This is (apparently) a parody of Matisse's work with the same name. I, however, have troubles seeing the resemblance... - Old Antibes
Well... But I am now getting more curious about that man pouring paint over his head - I spotted the same guy in Théoule ;-) - Gustav-Adolf-Kirche
- Pink Panther
Well... I did not expect to see him in Leoben. - Pestsäule in Leoben
- Leoben
Something was founded in 1853. I just don't know what.